Building the perfect rugby player: Wing
Following on from our look at the outside centre position, we now come to the penultimate article in our series attempting to build the perfect rugby player, with an examination of the wing position. Certain things remain as true at the position now as they were 20 or even 30 years ago, but plenty of things have also changed and there could be yet more redefining of the position if the proposed 50-22 kicking law is taken onboard by the sport.
Below we have rounded up the five key attributes for the position and provide an example of a player who currently best exhibits that particular skill. One area where wings have always had to be proficient is in their speed. If they can get outside of a defensive blitz, they are often in a one-on-one race with a covering full-back for the try line. Even if they can’t ultimately get in for a score, chances are that the quicker they are, the more territory they will gain before they are finally tackled.
South Africa’s Cheslin Kolbe leads the way here, not only with his top-end pace that has left many a defender grasping at thin air, but also his acceleration and ability to maintain speed when changing direction. It’s that manoeuvrability that makes Kolbe so elusive and why he has become one of the most feared players in international rugby.
As one of a team’s primary attacking weapons, wings need to have good finishing skills and instincts. This can range from an appreciation of when and where opportunities are going to arise, to an ability to manipulate their body and get the ball over the try line even in the smallest of spaces and battling both defenders and the touch line.
While there are wings in international rugby who will claim to have better all-round skill sets, not many can match the pure finishing skills of France’s Teddy Thomas. Just like his predecessors for Les Bleus, Thomas seems to have an uncanny knack for popping up at just the right time and in just the right positions. He’s a pure finisher.
'There were times when I was in the car with the rugby coach and players would be phoning in saying they couldn’t do anymore because it was affecting their actual work life.' @Tom_Varndell talks to @heagneyl 👨💻https://t.co/oKkSFnhHom
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 19, 2020
Combined with those speed and finishing elements, the attacking triumvirate is completed by the footwork that a wing needs to have to excel. The ability to step, spin or stutter can leave defenders’ red-faced and out of luck, whilst it also allows the attacking player to generate power going into contact, something which has long been a desired attribute for wings to be able to show.
There is no shortage of wings with adept footwork currently playing and New Zealand’s Rieko Ioane is one of the chief examples. The Blues wing is not only able to beat defenders by pulling off subtle and effective steps at speed, he is also one of the most deadly wings in rugby in small spaces, where his fast feet deliver a force that many larger wings struggle to create.
With the increase in kicking in rugby, wings have had to become more adept at dealing with aerial balls and already mentioned, that is only going to increase if the 50-22 kicking law comes to be. To be able to read the flight of a ball, position themselves well and then time their jump to be in prime position and not risk giving up penalties is one of the most desired skills any wing can have.
Key to their recent charge to the World Cup final, England’s Jonny May is arguably the most consistent international player in this area. His ability to win back kicks is second to none and he repeatedly makes tough and contested catches look easy when fielding kicks from the opposition. His speed is not to be dismissed either, but it’s in the air where he truly separates himself from the crowd.
Finally, we come to vision. With wings often having to field kicks from deep and launch counter-attacks, vision for space on the pitch is paramount. It goes beyond counter-attacks, with a rugby pitch often proving to be a congested area given the size and speed of players, so a wing who can pop up in midfield and exploit a hole in the defence is worth their weight in gold.
Although your gaze is initially drawn to his sizeable frame, Ireland’s Jacob Stockdale is one of the best going in this more subtle component of the position. He seems to have a natural feel for where space and holes in the defence are going to open up and regularly exploits them by tracking the ball in the midfield. His ability on the counter-attack is built around far more than his size and power.
Speed – Cheslin Kolbe
Finishing – Teddy Thomas
Footwork – Rieko Ioane
Aerial ability – Jonny May
Vision – Jacob Stockdale
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to comments